3 min readEnhancewell
What comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving? Is it turkey? Pumpkin pie? Green bean casserole? It’s the season for overeating, but the real reason for the season is gratitude. Did you know that being thankful can actually enhance your training?
In the lead-up to the most gratitude-driven holiday of the year, let’s chat about the research that backs gratitude as a training strategy and share our top tips for adding a little thankfulness to your routine— all year round.
Gratitude can prevent burnout
In a 2021 study, researchers from California State University and the University of Massachusetts investigated the correlation between gratitude and burnout. They found that athletes with increased gratitude and a positive relationship with their coach were less likely to experience burnout.
Australian researchers came to the same conclusion in 2018. They interviewed 10 Australian Olympians and Para-Olympians and concluded that gratitude contributed to “improved attitude; greater awareness; better capacity to deal with stress; increased confidence to express gratitude; and enhanced performance.”
Simple ways to add a little gratitude to your life
You don’t need to wait until Thanksgiving Day to express gratitude. In fact, you should make it a part of your daily life. Here are a few ways to sneak in a little bit of thankfulness every day:
Make gratitude your mantra
Mantras can alter your brain chemistry, turning the annoyances and challenges of the day into something to get excited about. If Olympic gymnast Suni Lee could use mantras to nail her performance— so can you.
Here are a few mantras about gratitude for athletes we like:
- I’m grateful for my health and all that my body can do.
- I am thankful for the opportunities my sport has given me.
- I am grateful for the lessons I’ve learned through success AND setbacks.
Go public with your gratitude
Don’t keep your thanks to yourself. Use your social media platforms to document your gratitude and encourage others, too. Enhancewell Fitness founder Antoni Luke-Akagi knows this practice firsthand. On his Instagram, he posted over 800 days of gratitude!
Not into public displays of appreciation? Go old school and send snail mail to express your gratitude to loved ones.
Start a gratitude journal
While sharing your gratitude is a great way to encourage others, cultivating a thankful heart is personal. Start a gratitude journal and write down at least one thing you’re grateful for daily. Some days, it may be hard to find even one thing, but eventually, you’ll see things to be thankful for everywhere! From green lights to kind words from strangers— goodness and gratitude are all around you.
If an empty journal feels overwhelming, consider getting a dated daily planner where you can write a line or two every day. Some people even use the same planner for years to look back on past gratitudes on that day in previous years.
Here at Enhancewell Fitness, we’re thankful for YOU! Sign up now for your private pre- or post-Thanksgiving feast fitness session, where we can talk about all there is to appreciate in the world— while helping you get some killer abs!